In an attempt to meet the development goal of universal access to
primary education by 2015, Rwanda’s government has decided to
reallocate a large part of its tertiary education budget to the primary
education sector.
As a result, thousands of students who rely on bursaries fear that
they will have to abandon their studies if their allowances and
merit-based college scholarships – which cover students' tuition fees,
accommodation and living expenses – are scrapped.
Cedric Kavamahanga, an engineering student at the Institute of
Science and Technology in Kigali, says many of his fellow students
might have to drop out of college.
"The livelihood [and access to tertiary education] of a number of
students from poor families are depending on this amount allocated to
them," he explains.
But the Rwandan government has made it clear that it believes the
new focus on improving access to and the quality of primary education
justifies the sacrifices that will be made in the tertiary education
sector.
"The resolution to cut allowance for university students was taken
after observing that there are other levels of the country’s education
system, which are still lagging behind," says education minister
Charles Murigande.
The minister promises the bursary will be abolished gradually. He
said, for a while, government will continue to support students
financially, but for shorter periods, with students being required
eventually to carry all of their university costs.
In 2009, Rwanda’s Ministry of Education spent $11.4 million on
bursaries for about 27,000 students in public universities and higher
institutions of learning.
Government says this is far too high and recommends rather using the
money to ensure that every citizen receives up to nine years of free
basic education – six years in primary school and three years in
secondary school.
Murigande promises, however, not to let university students fall by
the wayside. He says those students who are unable to complete their
studies without financial support from government, will be somehow
considered in the reshuffled education budget. But up until now, no
specific plan has been put into place to solve the issue.
Ultimately, government hopes that public and private universities
will start to finance bursaries for their own students from money
generated by research produced at their institutions. Others will have
to apply for loans and pay those back after their studies.
"The government emphasizes transforming higher learning institutions
into autonomous universities capable of generating their own income
from their research," notes Murigande.
He believes it is government’s first obligation to ensure that
everyone has access to basic education, while tertiary education is
important, but not a necessity.
Since Rwanda introduced free primary education in 2003, learners’
enrolment numbers have risen throughout the country. But poor
infrastructure, lack of equipment and a shortage of qualified teachers
have been jeopardizing progress made.
"Rwanda has pledged to achieve universal education by moving ahead
step by step, and so far, the country’s free primary education is only
slowly becoming a reality," explains Rwandan prime minister Bernard
Makuza.
"From now on, 25 percent of the total budget [of $92.1 million] of
the education sector, which used to be allocated as allowances to
university students, will be injected to finance basic education for
all", he adds.
Makuza believes that cutting the allowances of public university
students is the best way to close financial gaps in the primary
education sector. The money will not only be channelled into primary
education but also be used to improve the first three years of
secondary education.
By 2012, 40 percent of the country’s children will have access to
free primary and secondary education, and this number will be more than
doubled by 2015, the deadline for meeting the MDGs, government promises.
"Despite our modest resources, we have allocated more than 25
percent of our annual national budget to education, helping us to
realise 98 percent enrolment target for primary education, well ahead
of 2015," President Paul Kagame announced during the United Nations MDG
Summit, which took place in New York in September.
This will be a huge improvement from eleven percent of children attending primary school in Rwanda in 2007.
RNA
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